In this project, you’ll conduct an ethnographic study of thesocial practice of literacy, by “reading” an urban space,and then writing an essay that (1) describes in rich detailwhat you observed and (2) interprets the significance ofthat space for its sponsors and the people who use it.Broadly speaking, your essay will have two sections: adescriptive section and an interpretive section. Like thehistorical essay you wrote for Project 2, the descriptivesection will paint a vivid picture of what you observed in thefield, focusing upon those details that bring out the themesyou’ll go on to analyze in the interpretive section. And, likethe artifact interpretation you wrote for Project 1, theinterpretive section will make an argument about themeaning of the urban space that you’ve “read.” Todevelop that interpretation, you’ll draw upon conceptsfrom Lewis Mumford’s “What Is a City?” Sharon Zukin’s“What City? Whose City” and one or more books or articleschosen by you because they speak directly to your interpretive concerns.

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due dates

Tuesday, Feb. 26:

Please post a draft of the descriptivesection of your ethnography to Google Docs.

Thursday, Feb. 28:

Please revise the descriptive section ofyour ethnography and add a draft of the interpretivesection.

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the assignment

In this project, you’ll conduct an ethnographic study of the social practice of literacy, by “reading” an urban space, and then writing an essay that(1) describes in rich detail what you observed and (2) interprets the significance of that space for its sponsors and the people who use it.Broadly speaking, your essay will have two sections: a descriptive section and an interpretive section. Like the historical essay you wrote for Project 2,the descriptive section will paint a vivid picture of what you observed in the field, focusing upon those details that bring out the themes you’ll go onto analyze in the interpretive section. And, like the artifact interpretation you wrote for Project 1, the interpretive section will make an argumentabout the meaning of the urban space that you’ve “read.” To develop that interpretation, you’ll draw upon concepts from Lewis Mumford’s “WhatIs a City?” Sharon Zukin’s “What City? Whose City” and one or more books or articles chosen by you because they speak directly to your interpretiveconcerns.

⊗

due dates

Tuesday, Feb. 26:

Please post a draft of the descriptive section of your ethnography to Google Docs.

Thursday, Feb. 28:

Please revise the descriptive section of your ethnography and add a draft of the interpretive section.